Gadkari's condition similar to Advani's on Jinnah remarks: Bal Thackeray

Mumbai: BJP's oldest ally Shiv Sena on Wednesday said that while LK Advani "lost ground" due to the Jinnah remarks controversy, similarly Nitin Gadkari has been jolted because of the Swami Vivekananda comments row. "Advani lost ground over his Jinnah remarks and Gadkari has been jolted because of the Swami Vivekananda comments row," Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

In 2005, Advani's description of Mohammed Ali Jinnah as a "secular" leader during his visit to Pakistan created a controversy in India, following which he had resigned as BJP president. "Even Gadkari must be doubtful whether RSS would stand by him over his remarks on IQ of Swami Vivekananda and Dawood Ibrahim," he said.

"Gadkari has clarified that he has not equated Vivekananda with Dawood. However, not a single leader of his party has taken cudgels on his behalf," Thackeray said. "Gadkari's condition is like "Sukh ke sab saathi, dukh mein na koi" (everyone to share happiness but none to share sorrow), the editorial said.

"Advani lost ground over his Jinnah remarks and Gadkari has been jolted over his Swami Vivekananda comment," Thackeray said.

Thackeray had last month defended Gadkari, accused of receiving illegal favours in land allotment from Maharashtra's Congress-NCP government. "The allegations against Gadkari are as barren as the land he took (on lease from government)," Thackeray had said.

On Ram Jethmalani demanding the resignation of Gadkari in the wake of allegations of dubious funding of his company, Thackeray said, "Everyone knows the proximity between Jethmalani and Narendra Modi, and also the strained ties between Modi and Gadkari."